The commercial space industry in India has recently taken a significant leap forward with New Space India Limited (NSIL), a second commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The newly established NSIL has secured its first contract with a private US space services provider, Spaceflight. This milestone deal involves booking ISRO’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) to launch a spacecraft. Interestingly, the SSLV is yet to be tested.
The Promising Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)
The SSLV is a small but innovative vehicle in the field of space technology. Weighing a mere 110-tonne, it trumps over other launch vehicles like the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) or Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) due to its quick integration time of just 72 hours as opposed to the latter’s 70 days. Boasting a cost-effective price tag of around Rs. 30 crores, SSLV will operate on an on-demand basis.
Perfectly designed for launching multiple microsatellites simultaneously and supporting numerous orbital drop-offs, SSLV holds the ability to carry satellites weighing up to 500 kg to the Low Earth Orbit (LEO). This is compared to the PSLV, which can launch satellites in the weight range of 1,000 kg.
In terms of specifications, a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is an orbit circling Earth at an altitude above the Earth’s surface of 2,000 kilometres. It possesses an orbital period ranging from 84 to 127 minutes. Initially, ISRO’s SSLV was slated to have its first development flight in July 2019. However, the schedule faced delays to the end of 2019.
| SSLV Attributes | PSLV Attributes |
|---|---|
| Weight: 110-tonne | Weight: Over 110-tonne |
| Integration: 72 hours | Integration: 70 days |
| Cost: Rs. 30 crores | Cost: More than Rs. 30 crores |
| Satellite Weight Capacity: Up to 500 kg | Satellite Weight Capacity: In the range of 1,000 kg |
New Space India Limited (NSIL) and Its Partnership with ISRO
The establishment of NSIL, announced in the 2019 Budget, encompasses several mandates. One of its primary roles is to mass-produce and manufacture the SSLV and the more potent PSLV in association with the private sector in India through technology transfers.
With its focus on exploiting research and development carried out by ISRO over the years, NSIL aims to adapt these technological advancements for commercial purposes through partnerships with Indian industry. It differentiates itself from ISRO’s existing commercial arm, Antrix Corporation, in several ways. Antrix continues to handle ISRO’s commercial deals for satellites and launch vehicles with foreign customers. Meanwhile, NSIL devotes its efforts towards capacity building of the domestic industry for space manufacturing.
Source:IE
